Hood clamp for automobiles



April 3, 1928.

L. c. VANDERLIP HOOD CLAMP FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Dec. 11, 1926 PATENTOFFICE.

LOUIS G. VANDEBLII, OF ELKEABT, INDIANA.

HOOD CLAMP FOB AUTOMOBILES.

This invention relates to automobile deifrices, and especially to hoodclamps thereg The principal object of the invention is to provide aclamp which exerts both a downward and a lateral pressure upon the hood,the lateral pressure being effected by'cam means.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a clamp for an automobilehood wherein the hold-down clamp is connected with a keeper the lowerend whereof exerts a lateral pressure on the hood by cam action.

- Other and more specific objects of the invention are mentioned anddescribed herein.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of a hoodclamp and an automobile hood illustrating the application of theinvention thereto; Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof in fragment takenon line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 33 of- Fig. l;and Fig. 4 is a side elevation illustrating a fragmental modification ofthe invention.

Referring to the details of the drawing the numeral 1 represents a framesection of a motor car to whichthe hood abutment element 2 is rigidlyattached interiorly of the hood to limit theinward movement of theengine pressure exerted by a hood clamp, as hereinafter described.

The numeral 4 represents aclamp keeper which may be rigidly secured tothe hood 3 by rivets 5, hook of a spring after described. v I

The hold-down portion of the clamp may comprise thehollow cylindrical sring casing or barrel 6 which is aperture and constricted at its lowerend to admit the passage of the usual spring rod 7 and within which theusual coil spring 8 is arranged in encompassment of the rod 7, saidspring behold-downv clamp hereining seated on the rod head 9 and thelower constricted end wall of the casing 6. The upper end of the springcasing 6 may be rigidly socketed in a latch element 10 which may beprovidedwith a handle 11 and a hook 12 disposed on opposite sidesthereof, said hook being ada ted to resiliently engage the keeper 4 toeff dct the downward pressure on the latter and thereby the hood. Theupper edge of the keeper 4 may be conhood 3 when the latter is subjectto 5 and adapted to receive the Application filed December 11, 1926.Serial No. 154,055.

caved 0r recessed in any suitable manner at 21, the point of engagementby clamp hook 12, to prevent lateral displacement of said hook.

The lower end of the slidable spring rod 7 may be provided with a hingeeye 13 for pivotally connecting same, and the clamp unit, with the hingepin 14 mounted in the forked bracket 15 carried-by the base element 1.The numeral 16 represents a cam bracket angularly disposed relatively tothe hood 3 and which maybe rigidly mounted upon the base element 1intermediate the bracket 15 and the hood, for which purpose said cam maybe provided with the base section 17 .upon which the bracket 15 maybe17- ranged, fastener bolts 18 passing through t e both of said elementsto secure them to frame'section 1. Preferabl the cam element 16 isinclined outward y from the upright hood 3 and may be made of springsteel, the lower end of the cam being arranged nearer the hood than theu per end thereof, but the lower end of sai cam is disposed laterally ofand outside of the path of downward movement of the lower edge of thehood 3 to permit unrestricted downward action thereof. The lower end oredge of the hood may be. spaced from and above the frame section 1 topermit unrestricted downward and slidable movement off'the" hood on theem element 2 under pressure of the clampan cam means, as hereinafterdescribed.

The cam 16 is adapted to coact with the cam element 19 carried by thehood 3 and which may be a downward extension of the body of the-keeper'4and outwardly bent and In a device ofthis character it is very.

essential that the means used to prevent. rattle of the hood shall exertboth a downward pull as well as a lateral thrust on the hood, and thelatter must be very substantial to prevent rattle of the hood on thestop element 2, and the lateral thrust on the hood must be sustained aswell as substantial. To effect the sustained lateral pressure on thehood to project and hold the latter against the stop element 2 the cammechanism described is provided, whereby, when clamp hook 12 engages thekeeper 4, the downward pull thereof, exerted by spring 8, causes the cam19 to engage the stationary cam 16 with an increasing and directpressure, thereby efiecting a positive and sustained lateral pressureupon the hood.

I have illustrated the preferred and a modified form of the invention,but it will be evident that changes may be made therein, within thespirit and scope thereof, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim 1. In an automobile hood-clamp, the combination with a hood of acombined keeper and cam element rigidly secured to the hood exterior, aspring-actuated hold-down clamp positioned exteriorly of the hood andconnected with said keeper, and a stationary cam element arrangedexteriorly of the hood and adapted to coact with the cam section of saidkeeper for laterally projecting the hood.

2. In an automobile hood-clamp, the combination of a spring-actuatedhold-down clamp positioned exteriorly of the hood, a

hood abutment, and resilient cam means engaged by the hood whendepressed by said .hold-down clamp for projecting the hood laterallyagainst said abutment.

3. In an automobile hood-clamp, the com bination of a hood, a base frameelement, a spring actuated hold-down clamp arranged exteriorly of thehood, and a resilient cam connection between said hood and base frameelement adapted to direct pressure inwardly against said hood.

4. In an automobile hood-clamp, the combination of a hood, a base frameelement, a

spring actuated hold-down clamp arranged exteriorly of the hood, and aresilient stationarycam element arranged exteriorly of said hood andcarried by said base frame element, said cam being adapted to be engagedby the hood when the latter is depressed by said' hold-down clamp forproectin the hood inwardly and laterally.

5. fir an automobile hood-clamp, the combination with a hood, of acombined keeper and cam element secured to the hood, said cam elementbeing positioned below said keeper, a spring actuated hold-down clamppositioned exteriorly of the hood and connected with said keeper, and anabutment element adapted to coact with said cam element for laterallyprojecting the hood.

6. In an automobile hood-clamp, the combination with a hood, of acombined one piece keeper and cam element secured to the hood exterior,said cam element bein positioned adjacent the lower end of said eeperand cam element, a spring actuated holddown clamp positioned exteriorlyof the hood, and a stationary cam element arranged exteriorly of thehood and adapted to coact with said cam carried by the hood forlaterally projecting the hood upon engagement of said keeper bysaidhold-down clamp.

7. In an automobile hood clamp, the combination of a hood, a base frameelement, a. hood abutment Within the hood, a. spring actuated hold-downclamp mounted exteriorly of the hood and adapted to exert downwardpressure upon the hood, and coacting cam means directly connecting saidhood and base frame element, for laterally and inwardly actuating thehood against said hood abutment, said cam means being arranged whollyoutside of the hood and laterally of the downward path of move downwardpressure upon the hood, and coacting cam means for laterally andinwardly actuating the hood, said cam means comprising a cam carried onthe hood exterior, and a cam carried by the base frame element laterallyand outside of the downward path of movement of the hood lower edge.

.9. In an automobile hood clamp, the combination of a hood, a hoodabutment within the hood, a spring actuated hold-down clamp positionedexteriorly of the hood and adapted to exert downward pressure upon thehood, a cam carried upon the hood exterior, a stationary cam mountedexteriorly of the hood and in the path of movement of said hood cam,whereby downward pressure of the hold-down clamp actuates the hoodinwardly, causing the inside surface only of said hood to engage saidabutment.

10. In an automobile hood clamp, the combination of a hood, an abutmentwithin the hood, a spring actuated hold-down clamp.

positioned exteriorly of the hood and adapted to exert downward pressureupon the hood, and coacting cam elements arranged exteriorly of thehood, one of which cam elements is mounted upon the side of the hood andis a separate element, for projecting the hood laterally and inwardlyagainst said abutment with sustained pressure.

11. In an automobile hood clamp, the combination of a base frameelement, a hood, a hood abutment within the hood, a spring actuatedhold-down clamp positioned exteriorly of the hood and adapted to exertdownward pressure upon said hood, stationary cam means carried by saidbase frame element, and a cam mounted upon the hood exterior and abovethe lower edge thereof; whereby downward actuation of the hood by saidhold-down clamp 'actuates the hood inwardly against said abutment withsustained pressure thereon. 1

12. In an automobile hood clamp, the combination of a hood, an abutmentwithin the hood, a spring actuated hold-down clamp positioned exteriorlyof the hood and adapted to exert downward pressure upon the hood, andcoacting cam elements arranged exteriorly of the hood, one of which ismounted upon the hood side, for projecting the hood laterally andinwardly against said abutment, said cam elements being provided pithcoacting inclined substantially straight aces.

13. In an automobile hood clamp, the combination of a hood, a base frameelement, a spring actuated hold-down clamp arranged exteriorly of thehood and adapted to exert downward pressure upon the hood, said clampbeing carried by said frame element, a hood abutment within the hood,and coacting cam means for laterally and. in-

-bination of a hood,

wardly actuating the hood against said hood abutment as the hood isdownwardly actuated by the hold-down clamp, said cam means including astationary cam mounted adjacent the base of the hood and separate andspaced from said hood abutment.

14. In an automobile hood clamp, the coma base frame element, a hoodabutment within the hood, a spring actuated hold-down clamp mountedexteriorly of the hood and adapted to exert downward pressure upon thehood, and coacting cam elements positioned wholly exteriorly of the hoodfor laterally and inwardly actuating the hood against said hoodabutment, one of said cam elements being carried upon the exterior ofthe hood, the lower edge of said hood terminating short of said baseframe element to provide a clearance to permit unrestricted downwardmovement of the hood when'actuated by said clamp.

In witness whereof I have hereunto afiixed my signature this 8th day ofDecember,

1926. LOUIS C. VANDERLIP.

